Coronation Street star to join Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor in upcoming 2023 series

Millie Gibson, the 18-year-old actress known for her role in Coronation Street, has been revealed as the new companion to the 15th Doctor in the iconic series Doctor Who. During a special live segment on Children In Need, Gibson’s character, Ruby Sunday, was announced as the Doctor’s latest travel companion.

Gibson, who recently won the Best Young Performer award for her portrayal of Kelly Neelan in Coronation Street, will star alongside Ncuti Gatwa, who takes on the role of the 15th Doctor, marking a new era for the long-running show.

In a statement, Gibson expressed her excitement and disbelief, saying, “I am beyond honoured to be cast as the Doctor’s companion. It’s a dream role, and I will do everything I can to live up to the legacy left by previous companions. I can’t wait to join Ncuti on this incredible journey.”

The actress has previously appeared in ITV’s Butterfly and BBC’s Love, Lies and Records.

The announcement comes after Jodie Whittaker’s tenure as the first female Doctor ended with a special episode in October, celebrating the BBC’s centenary. In a surprise twist, Whittaker’s 13th Doctor regenerated into David Tennant, who will now appear as the 14th Doctor in a series of special episodes airing in November 2023.

Gatwa, 30, who will officially take on the 15th Doctor role after Tennant’s specials, spoke highly of his new co-star, saying, “Millie is a natural. She has a spark that draws everyone in and a talent that’s second to none. This adventure is going to be absolutely wild, and I can’t wait to share it with her.”

Russell T Davies, the showrunner for Doctor Who, who has returned to helm the series as it teams up with Disney, praised Gibson’s talent. “Millie is brilliant, dynamic, and clever. I’ve seen her face challenges on Coronation Street, but nothing compares to the adventure ahead for Ruby Sunday,” he said.

The new episodes of Doctor Who, set to air in November 2023, will also commemorate the show’s 60th anniversary. In a significant development, the BBC has partnered with Disney Branded Television, which will see future seasons of Doctor Who available to stream on Disney+ outside of the UK and Ireland.

The announcement was made as part of Children In Need’s 42nd annual fundraiser, where the total raised reached an impressive £15.4 million.

Doctor Who fans can look forward to an exciting new era with Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor, in what promises to be a thrilling chapter for the beloved sci-fi series.

The actor shares his reflections on personal choices and the pain of losing his mother before starting a family

Andrew Garfield has candidly discussed the societal pressure he has felt throughout his life to settle down and have children before reaching 40. In a recent interview with British GQ, the 39-year-old actor expressed the struggle of accepting a path that diverges from societal expectations.

Reflecting on his life journey, Garfield admitted that releasing himself from the expectation of having children by the time he turned 40 has been a challenging process. “It’s about accepting a different path than what was kind of expected of me from birth,” he explained. “There’s this idea that by this time, you should have done this and have at least one child, and there’s a certain amount of guilt I carry around that.”

Garfield, who has been candid about his personal life in the past, also touched on the emotional difficulty of his mother Lynn’s death in 2019. He shared the heartache that his potential children will never have the opportunity to meet her. “I would’ve loved for my mum to meet my kids, if I ever have any,” Garfield reflected. “She will be there in spirit, though. I know she’s there for all the big moments, and that’s a comfort.”

Garfield’s mother passed away from pancreatic cancer just before he began filming The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and the actor explained that the grief of her passing remains a profound part of his life. “Life is a perpetual practice of letting go,” he said. “Letting go of how things should look or feel, and that’s a big one to let go of, but we carry on.”

As for his current relationship status, Garfield has remained private after recent reports speculated about his break-up and subsequent reconciliation with model Alyssa Miller. The actor has chosen not to publicly comment on these personal matters.

While reflecting on his future and his family, Garfield noted that life is unpredictable. “Life is in charge. We’ll see what happens. I’m curious,” he added.

The December/January issue of British GQ is available on newsstands and for digital download on Tuesday, 29 November.

The cardiovascular researcher triumphs over tough competition to take the coveted Bake Off crown

Syabira Yusoff, a 32-year-old cardiovascular research associate from London, has emerged as the winner of the 2022 Great British Bake Off, beating fellow finalists Sandro Farmhouse and Abdul Rehman Sharif in the highly anticipated final episode of the Channel 4 baking competition.

“I can’t believe it. This is the biggest achievement of my life,” Syabira exclaimed after being named the winner. “All the hard work, the trial and error, it has all been worth it. I’m so proud of myself.”

Throughout the series, Syabira stood out for her unconventional flavour combinations and distinctive baking style, earning the title of Star Baker for three consecutive weeks. Reflecting on her journey, she described being a finalist as “like winning the lottery.”

“I’ve never been the top person in any competition before,” she confessed. “Maybe baking is my hidden talent that I only discovered recently.”

For the final challenges, the three contestants were tasked with preparing a summer picnic, with the challenge described as one of the most difficult in the history of the show. Syabira impressed the judges with her “no porky pie” made from aubergine and mushroom and a heart-shaped sandwich featuring broad beans and coriander paste, which judge Dame Prue Leith called “unusual” but “delicious.”

In the final technical challenge, Syabira faced some setbacks, with her summer pudding bombe failing to set. Despite this, Abdul secured his first technical challenge win of the season.

The ultimate test, the showstopper challenge, required the finalists to create an edible sculpture themed around “our beautiful planet.” Syabira opted for an orangutan holding up a forest, with Hollywood praising the colour work, though he suggested the animal’s face could have been more detailed.

Judges were impressed with her black-pepper genoise sponge, which was covered in a chocolate and hazelnut buttercream fur, with Hollywood calling it “delicious.” Dame Prue also appreciated the shortbread used for the orangutan’s head, calling it “buttery and very crisp.”

The final saw a return of co-host Noel Fielding, who had been absent earlier in the competition due to illness.

Sandro, a 30-year-old nanny from London, impressed the judges with his decoration skills throughout the series, though his final showstopper was criticised for being “a bit messy.” Hollywood praised the flavour of his lemon sponge despite some technical issues with timing.

Abdul, a 29-year-old electronics engineer, was consistent throughout the competition and was awarded Star Baker in the semi-final. His final display was less well-received, with Dame Prue calling his choux buns a “proper failure,” although she praised his biscuits.

The final saw the return of family and friends to Welford Park Estate, marking a significant reunion after two years of COVID restrictions, where previous contestants gathered to congratulate Syabira on her victory.

Radio host challenges Hancock’s sincerity after his public plea for forgiveness on the reality show

Chris Moyles didn’t hold back in criticising Matt Hancock after the former health secretary asked his I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! campmates for “forgiveness” on Friday night’s episode.

During the show, Hancock was questioned about his breach of his own Covid-19 guidelines while serving as health secretary, as well as the controversial affair he had with Gina Coladangelo. After offering an apology and requesting forgiveness, the Conservative MP’s sincerity was questioned by Moyles, who didn’t believe Hancock was being genuine.

“What exactly are you sorry for, Matt? What are you asking forgiveness for?” Moyles asked, suggesting Hancock’s words lacked authenticity.

“I think he’s not being real, and it’s really bothering me,” the radio host added, expressing his doubts about Hancock’s motivations.

Former Health Secretary claims he broke no laws, but admits to breaching his own rules

Matt Hancock has admitted to breaching his own Covid-19 guidance, though he insisted he did not break any laws, during an exchange on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

In a candid conversation with his campmates on Friday’s episode, the former Health Secretary was questioned about his actions during the pandemic. Responding to a suggestion by Chris Moyles that he had received a lockdown fine, Hancock clarified, “I didn’t break any laws, guidance is different.”

He further acknowledged, “But the problem was, it was my guidance,” before adding that he was “looking for a little bit of forgiveness.”

The revelation has sparked further debate around Hancock’s time as Health Secretary during the pandemic.